To meet a growing need for food assistance and ensure everyone can have food on Thanksgiving, Families Helping Families (FHF) is holding a gift card drive through Wednesday, Nov. 16 for families that shop at the Clinton Food Pantry.

To meet a growing food need at the pantry, FHF is asking for donations of gift cards of $25 to local supermarkets by Wednesday, Nov. 16. The gift cards can be dropped off at a Thomas Turkey set up outside the Clinton Police Department. People can also donate online at fhfclinton.org or a check can also be sent to FHF P. O. Box 166 Clinton CT. 06413. All monetary donations will be used to purchase gift cards.

A press release from FHF noted that this is the sixth year that FHF has held this drive. FHF President Miner Vincent said he is hoping to collect 400 gift cards.

“There’s been a huge increase in families who use the pantry over the last few years, Before the pandemic there was about 140 families at the pantry a week now it’s 400. We want to make sure everyone who uses the pantry has a gift card,” said Vincent.

The cards will be given out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so families have time to shop. FHF will also be proving fresh produce in addition to the gift cards. Vincent said that the fresh produce will be able to complement the traditional Thanksgiving food families have come to expect.

“There will be plenty of fresh produce for all,” said Vincent.

For more information, visit fhfclinton.org.